Members of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) detained six snatchers, along with several knives, from a Casuarina forest near Cox's Bazar sea beach on Friday.
The detainees are identified as Mohammad Ayub, 34, son of the deceased Abdul Selim from the New Jail Gate area of Jhilongja Union; Mohammad Toffazzal Hossain Noyon, 24, son of Jahangir Alam, from the same area; Shafiul Karim, 28, son of Nurul Haque, from Chaillyattali Panerchara area; Hriday Nishan Manik, 20, son of the late Badsha Miah, from Badshaghona area; Mahmud Imam Sharif, 20, son of the late Ali Johar, from Pahartali area; and Riaz Uddin, 18, son of Mamtaz Miah, from Lot Ukhiyarghona area of Ramu Upazila.
According to RAB, the detainees were targeting tourists in the beach and its surrounding areas for their crimes.
Senior Assistant Director (Legal and Media) of RAB-15 Cox's Bazar Battalion and Additional Superintendent of Police, Md Kamruzzaman, said the drive was conducted on early Friday at the Casuarina forest area near the Sugandha Point of Cox's Bazar sea beach.
Additional Superintendent of Police Md Kamruzzaman said acting on a tip-off, the RAB team conducted a drive to catch a group of armed miscreants who were roaming inside the Casuarina forest with the intention of commiting crimes. Upon arrival at the scene, 8 to 10 people attempted to flee, but RAB managed to apprehend six of them, while others escaped. During the search, RAB seized six knives and one knife handle from their possession.
The detainees confessed that they were involved in targeting tourists and stealing mobile phones, cash, and other valuables. They were active in the Casuarina forest near the sea beach late at night with the intention of committing snatchery, he added.
He also informed that a case has been filed against the detainees at Cox's Bazar Sadar police station.
